SQLFusion - Shawn Pare Affidavit for Cornwall Inquiry application for standing and funding

IN THE MATTER OF THE PUBLIC INQUIRY INTO THE EVENTS
SURROUNDING THE ALLEGATIONS OF ABUSE OF YOUNG
PEOPLE IN CORNWALL, ONTARIO
AND
IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION FOR STANDING AND
FUNDING FOR THE VICTIMS OF THE ABUSE

AFFIDAVIT OF SHAWN PARE

I, SHAWN PARE, of the City of Cornwall, in the United County of Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry, in the Province of Ontario, MAKE OATH AND SAY AS FOLLOWS:

1. I am one of the group of victims (hereinafter referred to as "Victims Group") who was sexually abused in the Cornwall area.

2. In 1995, at the age of 15, 1 was sexually abused by Jacques Leduc, a prominent Cornwall lawyer. This abuse lasted for three years.

3. The Victims Group seeks standing at this Inquiry to ensure that the perspective of the Victims Group is brought before the Inquiry.

4. As a victim of sexual abuse, my perspective includes the following:

a. When other victims reported their abuse to the authorities, I saw how they were treated and this led to my distrust in the system.

b. Had I received earlier intervention in helping me cope with the effects of my abuse then my life would have turned out differently.

Impact of the Abuse

5. As a result of my abuse, I struggled to cope with its effects and I was expelled from school.

6. I have overwhelming feelings of shame and guilt which have played a role in the disintegration of my family. I have very low self-esteem.

7. The abuse has left me emotionally traumatized. I have had difficulties maintaining gainful employment.

8. My ability to cope has been non-existent and I have not received any psychological support. Instead, I turned to drugs and alcohol and have become addicted.

9. I cannot trust others and this has led to strained relationships with family and friends. Since the abuse and failure of any form of institutional response, I have also lost trust in authority figures and institutions.

Failings of the Institutional Response

10. The criminal charges against Jacques Leduc were dismissed due to Charter violations.

11. I verily believe that the city leaders of Cornwall have failed in their duty to the citizens and helpless victims of sexual crimes in Cornwall.

12. I am poorly educated and a low income wage-earner as a result of the abuse and, as such, the police have treated me poorly. They have questioned my credibility and have failed me as a victim.

13. I believe that further details of my first hand experience as a victim dealing with the Cornwall police and justice system, which is the focus of Part I of this Inquiry, would be beneficial information for the Inquiry. I believe that my experiences and those of other victims must be canvassed by the Inquiry in order for it to fulfill its mandate.

14. My detailed experiences dealing with the police and justice institutions could be obtained by my testimony or the provision of a summary of my experiences. The provision of either would be most effective if counsel were provided to me as it would be to other victims.

Clinical Support

15. I am currently receiving limited psychological help in dealing with the abuse that I endured at the hands of Jacques Leduc.

15. However, I am not satisfied with the level of support that I am receiving. The options for counselling are severely limited in the Cornwall area. I verily believe that many of the other victims of sexual abuse do not have adequate resources to help them seek the counselling they require.

17. Due to our issues with trust, I verily believe that, as victims, we should be able to seek the help that we need from various resources,

18. I verily believe that I will continue to require psychological support and counselling to help me deal with the emotional trauma I have suffered as a result of the abuse.

Standing

19. As a first hand victim of sexual abuse, I verily believe that it is crucial that my perspective be brought before the Inquiry. Therefore, I have a direct interest in the outcome of this Inquiry and, as part of the Victims Group, have a substantial interest in ensuring the objectives of this Inquiry are met.

20. I further understand that I have the potential for a civil action or application for criminal injuries compensation and that those legal rights may be impacted by my participation within the Inquiry. Accordingly, I believe that I need access to legal counsel, as do other victims like me, in order to fairly participate without detrimental impact upon my civil and administrative remedies.

21. Having personally experienced the depths of the impact of sexual abuse and the related institutional failings, I, like other victims have the greatest motivation to see the system corrected and improved.

22. I strongly believe that there is no greater advocate for systematic improvement of the treatment, handling, and prosecution of sexual abuse cases than the victims themselves.

Funding

23. One of the devastating effects of my sexual abuse has been my inability to maintain gainful employment. I am currently employed as a factory worker and earn a monthly salary of $2,600.00. This is my only source of income. Therefore, in order to participate and be adequately represented at the Cornwall Inquiry I require that Ledroit Beckett, as my counsel of choice, receive funding to represent my interests without which I would otherwise be unable to participate in the Inquiry.

SWORN BEFORE ME at the City of Cornwall, in the United County of Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry, this 18th day of October, 2005.

A Commissioner, etc. Shawn Pare